Patient examining table



Aug- 27, 1963 F. c. ANDERSON 3,101,940

PATIENT EXAMINING TABLE Filed Aug. 3, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m2 @MJM/ v ATTORNEYS Aug. 27, 1963 F. c. ANDERSON PATIENT EXAMINING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1961 p I I p I I n FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

.F'RANKL/N C'. ANDERS o/v BY /My A. T TRNE YS United States Patent O 3,101,940 PATIENT EXAMINING TABLE Franklin C. Anderson, 557 Ridge Road,

' Owatonna, Minn. Filed Aug. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 129,025

t 3 Claims. (Cl. 269-322) examinations, are to be conducted, itis necessary to .trans-v fer the patient from her hospital bed .to a mo-bile cart upon which she is transported to a sepauate room such as Surgery, Delivery, or Emergency rooms, where examination tables af the type normally found in doctors oflices are located. Consequently, such examinations also require transferring of Vthe patient from the cart to the examining table and from the examining table back to the carut and again from the cart .to the bed. Such maneuvering is not only time-consuming and costly but also undesirable from the point of View of the p-atient.

A primary object of my invention is t'he provision of a highly mobile and foldable examining table which may be readily moved from room to room in a hospital, and which may be secured .to the side of a pfatients lbed when in its extended position so asv to form a generally lateral extension of the bed mattress; whereby to enable pl-acement of the patient thereon, Ifor purposes of examination, with an absolute minimum of movement and pain.

A lfurther object of my invention is the provision of an examining table of the class above described which may be folded Iand stored in a minimum of space and which may include cabinet and storage space for surgical tools, equipment and the like. t

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which includes: primary and secondary iioldable table top sections which may be raised and lowered together to compensate for the height of specifically different mattress-equipped hospital beds.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of va device of the class .above described wherein a particularly novel and highly eiiicient means is provided for locking the table to a bed when the top orming sections are in their extended operative positions.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described wherein the cooperating primary and secondary top orming sections are so formed that the primary and secondary top forming sections extend laterally outwardly'at an angle, less than a right angle, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bed, whereby the buttock and leg portions of the patient may be placed thereon with an absolute yminimum of movement, while the shoulder and head portions of the patient are still retained on and supported by the bed.

A still uuther object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is not unduly expensive to manufacture, which has a minimum of working parts, `is extremely easy .to opeuate, and is rugged and durable.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, .appended claims and attached drawings.

Refer-.ring to the .drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of my novel examining tab-le;

3,101,940 Patented Aug. 27, 1963 ice FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of :the structure of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is aview in section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. l.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a generally rectangular base trame which, for purposes of mobility, is provided at its lower end with a plurality of conventional rubber tire casters 2. Preferably, and as shown, the base frame 1 is in the nature of a cabinet having suitable drawers and doors collectively identified by the numeral 3 in its front wall 4. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, the cabinet-like base frame 1 terminates at its upper end in a top 5 upon which is supported a conventional jack 6 of the scissors type. At its upper end the jack 6 engages and supports a horizontally disposed generally rectangular primary top element 7. Rigidly secured to and carried by said primary top element 7 is a' generally rectangular skirt which is identitied in its entirety by the numeral 8 and which has telescoping engagement with the upper end portion of the cabinet-like base frame 1.

For purposes :of imparting limitedraising and lowering movements to the primary :top element 7 and skirt 8 carried thereby, with respect to the cabinet-like base frame 1, I provide a screw 9 which, in conventional manner, is associated with the jack 6 and which projects laterally outwardly through a vertically extended slot 10' in the side Wall 8a of the skirt 3. At its outer end the shaft 9 is provided with :a crank 11 to facilitate imparting jack-adjusting rotation thereto.

Hingedly secured lon a horizontal axis to the upper end portion of the rear wall 8b of the skirt 8, as indicated at 12., is a secondary table top element 13. Preferably, and as shown, the secondary table top element 13` is shaped to define a right angle triangle and is swingable from the dotted lline position of FIG. 3 wherein it is vertically disposed in substantial engagement with Ithe rear 'wall 8b of the skirt S, to the full line position thereof wherein it is in its horizontally disposed operative position lying in the same plane "as and forming lan extension of the primary top element 7. For purposes of comfort toA a patient being examined thereon, each or the top forming sections 7, 13 are suitably padded.

To securely maintain the secondary top forming section 13 in its operative flu-ll line position, I pnovide a pair of laterally spaced conventional folding braces or toggle arms 14. The base forming side edge 13a of the secondary top forming element 13 is in substantial engagement with the rear ledge 7a of the primary top yforming element 7, when in operative position; and the altitude 'forming edge portion 13b lof said secondary top forming element 13 is in alignment with the correspon-ding side edge 7b of the primary top forming section 7. However, the base forming side edge portion 13a of the secondary top tforming section -13 is of less width than the transverse width of the primary top section, at its front end 7c, Ifor an important purpose immediately 'hereinafter to be explained. Consequently, the rear `corner of the primary top forming section 7 .and the skirt -8 carried thereby rare respectively relieved to define angular side portions la, 7d, and 8c. All of thme side portions 1a, 7d, and 8c lie in the same vertical plane as the hypotenuse forming angular side 'edge 13e of the secondary top formling section 13.

The arrangement immediately above described makes it Ipossible to `easily move the cabinet-like 'base forming trame 1 so as to position the side edges 13e and 7d of the secondary and primary top forming sections 13, 7 in engagement with the mattress A of a bed identified in its entirety by the letter B. To adjust the level of the top lforming sections 7, 13 with respect to the mattress A, it may be necessary to raise or rower the fonmer through the medium of the crank 11. When so located the legs and lower torso of `a patient may be Vangularly swung onto the top forming sections 7, 13 with `a minimum of eiort and with a minimum of pain or aggravation to the patient.

'To securely lock the base frame l1 and parts carried thereby in the operative position immediately above described, I provide ian elongated tubular guide member which, as shown, is secured to and carried bythe skirt 8, intermediate the lower ends of the toggle arms 14 and the hinge connection 12. As shown, the tubular guide 15 is horizontally disposed and has longitudinal ldimensions substantially equal to the width of the rear wall 8b of the skiit 8 to which it is specically secured and said guide 15 is parallel to the vertical plane of the wall 8b. Extending through the guide member 15 and slidable therein is Ian elongated tie member 16` which specically, and fas shown, comprises a link chain having `alternate vertically and horizontally disposed links 17 and 18 respectively. At one end the tie member 16 is provided with a hook element 19 which is adapted to detachably engage the rail or the like of a lbed A when the table has been wheeled into the operative position shown in As shown, the end `of the tubular rgui-de 15 remote from the yhook 19 is provided with an axially outwardly opening slot 20 which is capable yof slidably receiving therein any one of the vertically disposed links y17 but incapable of receiving the horizontally disposed links 18 of the chain 16. Consequently, in order to securely lock the bed A in engagement with the hypotenuse forming yside 13e of the secondary top section 13, the operator pulls the tie member 16 through the tubular guide 15 until said tie member is taut. Thereafter, the tie member locks itself with respect to the guide merely by allowing the adjacent vertically disposed link 17 -to be received within the slot 20 under gravity. Preferably, and -as shown, the end of the tie member 16 lopposite the hook element 19 is provided with an enlarged hand receiving ring 21.

Shown ias secured to the skirt 8 and projecting forwardly therefrom are a pair of laterally spaced cooperating foot-engaging stirrups 22 which yare conventional in design and form no part of the present invention.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to he completely satisfactory for the 'accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have shown a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be understood that same may be capable of modication without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What 4is claimed is:

1. In a patient examining table, ra readily mobile frame structure, a generally rectangular primary table top element mounted on said frame structure for limited raising and lowering movements with respect thereto, a pair of laterally spaced cooperating foot-engaging stirrups carried by said primary top elementV `and projecting forwardly therefrom, a secondary table top element hingedly secured to the rear lend portion of said primary top element for swinging movements fnom ya vertically disposed inoperative position at one side of said iframe structure to a horizontally disposed operative position wherein it lies in the same plane as land forms `an extension of said primary top element, said secondary top element being shaped generally t-o idene 1a right angle triangle, the base forming side edge of said triangular secondary top element being in substantial engagement with the rear edge of said primary top element, the altitude forming edge portion of said triangular secondary top element being in alignment with the corresponding side yof said primary top element, and means for locking said top sections to a lbed with the hypotenuse forming edge portion of the triangular secondary top element in abutting relationship with the mattress of said bed, said primary top element being formed `at one rear corner to provide an angular side portion which forms an extension of the hypotenuse `forming side of said secondary top section.

2. In a patient examining table, `a readily mobile frame structure, a generally rectangular primary table top element mounted o-n said frame structure for limited raising and lowering movements with respect thereto, a secondary table top element hingedly secured to the rear end portion of said primary top element for swinging movements from a vertically disposed inoperative position at one side of said frame structure to a horizontally disposed operative position wherein it lies in the same plane as and forms .an extension of `said primary top element, said secondary top element being shaped generally to deiine a right langle triangle, the base forming side edge of said triangular secondary top 4element being in Isubstantial engagement with the rear edge of said primary top element, the altitude forming edge portion of said triangular secondary top element being in alignment with the corresponding side of said primar] top element, and means for locking said top sections to a bed with the hypotenuse forming edge portion of the triganular secondary top element in 4abutting relationship with the mattress of said bed, said means comprising a horizontally disposed tubular guide member carried by said primary top section, said tubular guide member having a longitudinal dimension corresponding approximately to the width of said rear edge and underlying said rear edge thereof, an elongated iiexible tie member extending movably axially through said tubular guide member, hook means on one end of said tie 4member for detachable engagement with a bed, and means on said guide member remote from said hook means for releasably locking said exible tie member against movement in one Adirection relative to Isaid guide member, said tubular guide member having a longitudinal dimension corresponding approximately to the width of said rear edge and underlying said rear edge.

3. The structure defined in `claim 2 in which said tie member is in the nature of a link chain having lalternate vertically and horizontally disposed links and in which said last-mentioned means is in the nature of a slot which opens axially outwardly through the end of said guide member remote from said hook means, said slot being of -a width to slidably receive the vertically `disposed links of said chain but excluding the horizontally disposed links of said chain therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 716,238 Johnson Dec. 16, 1902 2,528,048 Gilleland Oct. 31, 1950 2,587,094 Berg et al. Feb. 26, 1952 2,630,583 Gilleland Mar. 10, 1953 2,835,522 Serto May 20, 1958 2,987,734 Littleton June 13, 196-1 

1. IN A PATIENT EXAMINING TABLE, A READILY MOBILE FRAME STRUCTURE, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PRIMARY TABLE TOP ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FOR LIMITED RAISING AND LOWERING MOVEMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED COOPERATING FOOT-ENGAGING STIRRUPS CARRIED BY SAID PRIMARY TOP ELEMENT AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, A SECONDARY TABLE TOP ELEMENT HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE REAR END PORTION OF SAID PRIMARY TO ELEMENT FOR SWINGING MOVEMENTS FROM A VERTICALLY DISPOSED INOPERATIVE POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE TO A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN IT LIES IN THE SAME PLANE AS AND FORMS AN EXTENSION OF SAID PRIMARY TOP ELEMENT, SAID SECONDARY TOP ELEMENT BEING SHAPED GENERALLY TO DEFINE A RIGHT ANGLE TRIANGLE, THE BASE FORMING SAID EDGE OF SAID TRIANGULAR SECONDARY TOP ELEMENT BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REAR EDGE OF SAID PRIMARY TOP ELEMENT, THE ALTITUDE FORMING EDGE PORTION OF SAID TRIANGULAR SECONDARY TOP ELEMENT BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CORRESPONDING SIDE OF SAID PRIMARY TOP ELEMENT, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID TOP SECTIONS TO A BED WITH THE HYPOTENUSE FORMING EDGE PORTION OF THE TRIANGULAR SECONDARY TOP ELEMENT IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MATTRESS OF SAID BED, SAID PRIMARY TOP ELEMENT BEING FORMED AT ONE REAR CORNER TO PROVIDE AN ANGULAR SIDE PORTION WHICH FROMS AN EXTENSION OF THE HYPOTENUSE FORMING SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY TOP SECTION. 